Bottle crate



June 29, 1943. D. H. BlTNE Y. T 2,322,917

BOTTLE CRATE Filed June 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b K E NH MM EH H H 11ml 5 fliM F D. H. BITNEY June 29, 1943.

BOTTLE CRATE Filed June 3. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 v 1 4 i Z ATTORNEYS Patented June 29, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CRATE Dewey H. Bitney, Albion, Steel Products Compa poration of Michigan Application June 3, 1940, Serial No. 338,569

9 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a bottle crate which may be constructed in two units-namely, an outer wall unit and a combined partition and bottom unit, and the units readily assembled.

Second, to provide a bottle crate which can be quite easily repaired in the portions thereof that are likely to be injured in use.

Third, to provide a bottle crate in which the compartments are so formed that effective sides are provided for the guiding of the bottles into the compartments and their support therein.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages which is very rigid and the parts likely to be injured in use effectively protected.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

-A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bottle crate embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary partially assembled view sectioned on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, fragments of. a second structure being shown by dotted lines tain features of advantage.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the combined bottom and partition unit as assembled for insertion into the wall unit.

Referring to the drawing, the wall unit comprises main bottom and top frame members I and 2 respectively. These frame members are connected by the vertical slats 3 which are disposed on the inner sides of the main frame members and welded thereto as indicated in Fig. 4. The corner slats 5 are preferably oflsomewhat heavier stock than the slats 3.

The top frame member is provided with upwardly offset loop-like lugs 6 designed as stacking lugs and are engageable within the corners of the bottom frame member of a superimposed rack.

The vertical slats are slightly inwardly inclined-that is, the top frame member being of somewhat less dimensions than the bottom frame member.

I provide a combined bottom and partition unit comprising the bottom intermediate border member 1 and the top intermediate border member 8 disposed in vertically spaced relation. Botillustrating cer- Mich., assignor to Union ny, Albion, Mich., a cortom slats 9 are arranged in spaced pairs transversely of the bottom intermediate border member 1 and terminate in loops H) which are engaged with opposed sides of the border member 1 and are welded thereto, the welds not however being indicated.

Bottom slat supporting rods H are arranged transversely below the slats 9 and are welded thereto at their crossing points as shown at l3, these members l2 terminating in loops [4 engaged around the member 1 and welded thereto as indicated at l5. It will be understood that the loops of the bottom slats are welded in the same relation.

Top partition members it are arranged in crossed relation to each other and welded at their crossing points and these also terminate in looped ends which engage and are weldedto the top intermediate border member 5.

Bottom partition members l1 are disposed in vertical alignment with the top partition members l6 and are provided with downwardly inclined ends I8 terminating in loops l9 which are welded at 20 to the bottom intermediate border member 1. This supports the main portion of the partition members H the bottom slats. These bottom partition members are arranged in crossed relation and are provided with loops 2| of substantial height, the bights of which are welded to the undersides of the top partition members I 6.

These loops are disposed centrally of the compartments and constitute vertical compartment side elements and guides for guiding a bottle into the compartment when they are presented in an inclined relation. They also serve as effective struts and tie members providing a very rigid structure even when made of comparatively light material.

The main wall unit is preferably formed as a unit comprising the top and bottom frame members and the vertical slats. The combined bottom and partition unit is also preferably formed as a unit as has been described. This assembled unit is inserted within the wall unit with the bottom border member l substantially spaced above the bottom frame member I and the intermediate border members are welded to at least certain of the vertical slats as indicated at 22. This provides a very rigid structure and one in which the parts can be effectively and economically assembled, it being easier to assemble the main wall unit and th combination bottom and partition unit particularly when scribed and then assemble the two units. Furin spaced relation to they have the features deother crates therefrom as indicated by full and V dotted lines in Fig. 4.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in a very practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bottle crate, the combination of a wall unit comprising main top and bottom frame members and upright slats welded to the inner sides of said frame members, a combined bottom and partition unit comprising top and bottom border members, bottom slats disposed in spaced 7 pairs and having looped ends engaged with and welded to opposite sides of said bottom border member, bottom slat supporting rods disposed transversely below said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points and having looped ends engaged with and Welded to opposed sides of said bottom border frame, top partition members disposed in crossed relation and welded at their crossing points and having looped ends en aged with and welded to said top border frame, and bottom partition members disposed below and in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to each other and welded at their crossing points, said bottom partition members terminating in downwardly inclined end portions having looped ends engaged with and welded to said bottom border member, said bottom partition members also having upwardly offset loops, the bight portions of which are welded to the undersides of said top partition members, said loops constituting central vertical compartment side elements, said pairs of bottom slats being disposed below the compartments thus provided, said border members being diposed within and welded to vertical slats of said main wall unit with the bottom border frame spaced above the main bottom frame.

2. In a bottle crate, the combination of a wall unit comprising main top and bottom open frame members and upright slats welded to the inner sides of said frame members, a combined bottom and partition unit comprising top and bottom border members, bottom slats disposed in spaced pairs and having looped ends engaged with and welded to opposite sides of said bottom border member, bottom slat supporting rods disposed transversely below said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points and having looped ends engaged with and welded to opposed sides of said bottom border frame, top partition member disposed in crossed relation and welded at their crossing points and having looped ends engaged with and welded to said top border frame, and bottom partition members disposed below and'in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to each other and welded at their crossing points, said bottom partition members terminating in downwardly inclined end portions having looped ends engaged with and welded to said bottom border member, said border members being disposed within and welded to vertical slats of said main wall unit with the bottom border frame spaced above the main bottom frame.

3. In a bottle crate, the combination of a Wall unit comprising main top and bottom open frame members and upright slats welded to the inner sides of said frame members, a combined bottom and partition unit comprising top and bottom border members, bottom slats disposed in spaced pairs and havin looped ends engaged with and welded to opposite sides of said bottom border member, bottom slat supporting rods disposed transversely below said bottom slats and welded thereto at their crossing points and having looped ends engaged with and welded to opposed sides of said bottom border frame, top partition members disposed in crossed relation and welded at their crossing points and having looped ends engaged With and Welded to said top border frame, and bottom partition members disposed below and in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to each other and welded at their crossing points, said bottom partition members having looped ends engaged with and welded to said bottom border member, said border members being disposed within and welded to vertical slats of said main wall unit with the bottom border frame spaced above the main bottom frame.

4. In a bottle crate, the combination of a wall unit comprising main top and bottom frame members and upright slats fixedly connected to said frame members, a combined bottom and partition unit comprising top and bottom border members, bottom slats welded to opposite sides of said bottom border member, top partition members disposed in crossed relation and welded at their crossing points and welded to said top border frame, and bottom partition members disposed below and in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to each other and welded at their crossing points, said bottom partition members being welded to said bottom border member, said bottom partition members having upwardly offset loops,'the bight portions of which are welded to said top partition members, said loops constituting central vertical compartment sid elements, said border members being disposed within and welded to vertical slats of said main wall unit with the bottom border frame spaced above the main bottom frame.

5. In a bottle crate, the combination of a wall unit comprising main top and bottom open frame members and upright slats fixedly connected to said frame members, a combined bottom and partition unit comprising top and bottom border members, bottom slats welded to opposite sides of said bottom border member, top partition members disposed in crossed relation and welded at their crossing points and welded to said top border frame, and bottom partition members dis posed below and in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to each other and welded at their crossing points, said bottom partition members being welded to said bottom border member, certain of said partition members having pairs of spaced reaches connected at. one end thereto extending vertically between and secured at their other end to other of the partition members, said reaches defining confining compartment side members disposed medially of each of a plurality of compartments outlined by said crossed partition members, said border members being disposed within and welded to vertical slats of said main wall unit with the bottom border frame spaced above the main bottom frame.

6. In a bottle crate, the combination of a wall unit comprising main top and bottom open frame members and upright slats fixedly connected to said frame members, a combined bottom and partition unit comprising top and bottom border members, bottom slats welded to opposite sides of said bottom border member, top partition members disposed in crossed relation and welded at their crossing points and welded to said top border frame, and bottom partition members disposed below and in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to eac other and welded at their crossing points, said bottom partition members terminating in downwardly inclined end portions and welded to said bottom border member, said border members being disposed within and welded to vertical slats of said main wall unit with the bottom border frame spaced above the main bottom frame.

'7. In a bottle crate, the combination of main top and bottom open frame members and upright slats, top and bottom intermediate bordermembers secured to said upright slats, bottom slats secured to and carried by the bottom intermediate border member independently of said main bottom frame member, top partition members disposed in crossed relation and secured to said top intermediate border frame, and bottom partition members disposed below and in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to each other, said bottom partition members having upwardly offset loops, the bight portions of which are secured to said top partition members, said loops constituting vertical compartment side elements.

8. In a bottle crate, the combination of main top and bottom open frame members and upright slats, top and bottom intermediate border members secured to said upright slats, bottom slats secured to and carried by the bottom intermediate border member independently of said main bottom fram member, top partition members disposed in crossed relation and secured to said top intermediate border frame, and bottom partition members disposed below and in spaced relation to said top partition members and in crossed relation to each other, certain of said partition members having pairs of spaced reaches connected at one end thereto extending vertically between and secured at their other end to other of the partition members, said reaches defining confining compartment side members disposed medially of each of a plurality of compartments outlined by said crossed partition members, said bottom partition members terminating in downwardly inclined end portions secured to said bottom intermediate border member.

9. In a bottle crate, the combination of main top and bottom open frame members and upright slats secured thereto, top and bottom intermediate border members secured to said upright slats, bottom slats secured to and carried by the bottom intermediate border member, horizontal top partition members disposed in crossed relation and secured to said top intermediate border member and bottom horizontal partition members corresponding to said top partition members and disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation thereto, certain of said horizontal partition member having vertical loop-like ofisets therein, the bights of the loops being secured to the corresponding vertically aligned partition members and the reaches of the loops being disposed in the planes of the partition members and consti'tuting compartment side members common to adjacent compartments.

DEWEY H. BITNEY. 

